Did Minnesota Timberwolves dodge a bullet at the trade deadline?

One of the challenges of sorting through all of the NBA Rumors before the NBA Trade Deadline that involved the Minnesota Timberwolves and a host of other teams is trying to sort through the ones that actually made it off the whiteboard. Who actually were the NBA teams who negotiated with the Timberwolves from the many named in Timberwolves rumors?

Today we can confirm that yes, trading forward Taurean Prince to the Denver Nuggets for point guard Bones Hyland was a thing.

Well, we now know that the Minnesota Timberwolves did enter into negotiations for PG Bones Hyland from the Denver Nuggets, and the exchange did involve Timberwolves forward Taurean Prince, as was the hot rumor that appeared seemingly out of nowhere in the final days before the NBA Trade Deadline.

Looks like the Timberwolves rumors were true, to a point

Based on the latest article from Hoops Hype Michael Scotto, the Nuggets did indeed enter into negotiations to send their backup point guard Bones Hyland to the Minnesota Timberwolves in exchange for power forward Taurean Prince.  Of course, that deal never happened, as the Timberwolves ended up trading D’Angelo Russell to the LA Lakers as part of a three-way team trade that netted them two players and three draft picks. Ultimately, the Timberwolves emerged from the NBA Trade Deadline with point guard Mike Conley Jr., formerly from the Utah Jazz. In a separate trade, the Denver Nuggets landed center Thomas Bryant, formerly of the LA Lakers.

And what of Bones Hyland? He was dealt away to the LA Clippers for a pair of second-round NBA Draft picks.

Was it a deal worth pursuing? Of course. But in the end, the Timberwolves held their ground and the Nuggets ultimately were motivated to move Hyland off their roster for minimal compensation. The Timberwolves wisely opted not to part ways with Prince, who has been vital in serving as a plug-n-play versatile role with the team throughout the season.

Would Bones Hyland have moved the needle for the Timberwolves? Perhaps. But having seen how eager the Nuggets were to offload him, for the deeply discounted cost of just two second-round draft picks, optimism in that fit for the Timberwolves roster seems, misplaced. In the end, the Timberwolves did land a true point guard in time to reset for any potential post-season play.